Leahy, Sanders Welch respond to Nunes memo release

House Republicans on Friday released a partisan and bitterly disputed memo that they say shows surveillance abuses in the early stages of the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign and Russia. (Feb. 2)
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U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., arrives at an event in March 2017 in Colchester.(Photo: APRIL MCCULLUM/FREE PRESS)Buy Photo

Members of Vermont's congressional delegation issued statements in response to the release of the GOP Nunes memo.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.

For years I have been leading calls in the Senate to protect our civil liberties and reform our surveillance authorities under FISA. The President and House Republicans’ decision to release the Nunes memo has absolutely nothing to do with what is wrong with FISA — including unrelated provisions that allow for warrantless surveillance of Americans. Nor does this poisoned, partisan memo have anything to do with serious oversight of FISA authorities more broadly. The memo deliberately omits key facts and intentionally distorts the multilayered process led by rank and file national security professionals that is required to obtain and renew a judicial warrant for a suspected foreign agent. In this case that meticulous process led to a warrant for Trump campaign advisor Carter Page, an individual targeted for recruitment by known Russian spies even before he joined the President’s team.

While the memo reveals nothing about the FISA process, it reveals a lot about the President and House Republicans who released it. It represents yet another desperate, cynical, hyper-partisan attempt to smear key Justice Department officials and undermine the Russia investigation. It is more important than ever that the Special Counsel be able to complete his investigation without further interference from the President or his allies in Congress.

What most concerns me today is that a foreign adversary attacked our democracy in 2016, suffered no consequences, and is poised to do it again. Yet the President has done nothing but attack the very people who defend our country from such foreign assaults — our dedicated law enforcement and intelligence professionals. Perhaps the President needs to ask himself what team HE is on.

Bernie Sanders(Photo: Special to the Register)

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

"Let’s be absolutely clear. The release of this Republican staff memo is a blatant attempt by House Republicans and the White House to disrupt the critically important investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election and the possible collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign.

"The fact that Congressional Republicans and the White House would release a memo the FBI itself says is misleading is a sad example of a political party putting partisanship above patriotism. That this memo was first released to right-wing news outlets like FOX News and the Washington Examiner speaks to the political nature of this effort.

"According to news reports President Trump himself has acknowledged that the release of the memo was designed to disrupt Robert Mueller’s investigation. It is critical that the American people learn the truth about what happened in 2016, and no political stunt should interfere with the special counsel’s work. What is the president afraid of?"

Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt.(Photo: AP)

Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt.

President Trump’s decision to release highly classified and distorted intelligence is a blatant attempt to undermine the investigation of Special Counsel Robert Mueller. It is imperative that Mueller be able to complete his investigation unfettered by cynical propaganda like this memo. No one is above the law, including President Trump.